NC House Minority Leader, Rep. Paul Stam just introduced a bill that would expand the abusive practice of quick takes.
Quick takes refer to a practice whereby once the government decides it wants to seize private property, it takes immediate title and possession of the property. If you are a homeowner, you could wake up one day and find that the state owns your house.
This practice should be abolished. Under current law, local governments in certain circumstances have quick take authority however property owners can challenge the taking in court by seeking an injunction (assuming they have the knowledge, time, and money), and title doesn’t go to the government until a court renders final judgment.
The Department of Transportation though has much stronger quick take authority. It can get immediate title and possession regardless of any challenge by property owners.
Rep. Stam’s bill, instead of getting rid of this abuse, would expand it so that the town of Fuquay-Varina could use the same quick take authority that the Department of Transportation has–so much for property rights.
